Rittenhouse Post Acute: No Seizure Care Plan - PA
State inspectors found the oversight during an August complaint investigation at the facility on the fifth floor of Penn Medicine's Rittenhouse campus on Lombard Street.
The resident's physician orders from August 2025 listed multiple serious conditions: depression, back pain, convulsions, and cerebral infarction from a previous stroke. Medical records showed the person was also receiving seizure medication.
But when inspectors reviewed the resident's person-centered care plan, they found no protocols for managing seizures. No goals. No interventions. No plan at all for a condition that can cause sudden bursts of electrical activity in the brain and changes in behavior, movements, and consciousness.
The Director of Nursing confirmed the gap during an interview with state inspectors on August 19 at 1:46 p.m. The DON acknowledged that the resident had no care plan in place for seizures.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to develop complete care plans that address all of a resident's medical needs. The plans must include specific, measurable goals and interventions with clear timetables.
For someone with a seizure disorder, a proper care plan would typically outline how staff should respond during an episode, what safety precautions to maintain, and how to monitor the effectiveness of anti-seizure medications.
The inspection report describes convulsions as "rapid, involuntary muscle contractions that cause uncontrollable shaking and limb movement that can happen during or without seizures." Seizures themselves are defined as sudden electrical disruptions in the brain that can alter behavior, movement, feelings, and levels of consciousness.
The facility's failure represents a significant gap in coordinated care. A resident was receiving medication for a neurological condition, but staff had no written guidance on how to manage that condition day to day.
Care plans serve as roadmaps for nursing staff, outlining specific interventions and monitoring requirements for each resident's medical conditions. Without a seizure care plan, staff would lack clear protocols for recognizing warning signs, responding to episodes, or tracking medication effectiveness.
The deficiency affected what inspectors classified as "few" residents, though the report details only one case. Inspectors determined the violation posed "minimal harm or potential for actual harm" to residents.
Rittenhouse Post Acute operates as a post-acute care facility within Penn Medicine's Rittenhouse campus, providing rehabilitation and skilled nursing services. The facility is required to maintain comprehensive care plans for all residents' diagnosed conditions.
State regulations mandate that nursing homes develop individualized care plans based on comprehensive assessments of each resident's needs. These plans must be updated regularly and must address all medical conditions that could affect a resident's health and safety.
The August inspection was conducted in response to a complaint, though the report does not specify the nature of the original complaint that prompted the investigation.
During the review, inspectors examined clinical records and interviewed facility staff to determine compliance with care planning requirements. The investigation revealed the gap between the resident's diagnosed seizure condition and the absence of corresponding care protocols.
The facility must submit a plan of correction to address the deficiency and demonstrate how it will ensure all residents with seizure disorders receive appropriate care planning in the future.
For residents with neurological conditions like seizures, comprehensive care planning is essential for maintaining safety and quality of life. Care plans typically include medication management protocols, environmental safety measures, and staff training requirements for emergency response.
The inspection findings highlight the importance of coordination between medical diagnosis, prescription practices, and nursing care protocols. When these elements operate independently rather than as integrated components of resident care, gaps can emerge that potentially compromise resident safety and well-being.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Rittenhouse Post Acute from 2025-08-19 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
Data source: Official federal inspection data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Editorial process: AI-synthesized regulatory data, reviewed for accuracy by our editorial team.
Professional review: All content reviewed by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NH EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
Last verified: June 20, 2026 · Our methodology
RITTENHOUSE POST ACUTE in PHILADELPHIA, PA was cited for violations during a health inspection on August 19, 2025.
Medical records showed the person was also receiving seizure medication.
Health inspections identify deficiencies that facilities must correct. Violations range from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns. Review the full report below for specific details and facility response.